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| Monday January 31, 2005 : EST | |
| Site Map | Home > Museum | Take a walk down memory lane... |
| The former American LaFrance chassis manufacturing facility in Cleveland, NC also houses the company's museum and priceless collection of antique American LaFrance fire trucks. The museum is closed to the public while arrangements are made to move the collection to the new headquarters in the Charleston area. |
| 1858 Button & Blake 16-Man Hand Pumper | |
 Registration #:459 | Button was the largest builder of hand pumpers in America. Founded in 1831, it was the beginning of the line of companies which became American LaFrance. The 1858 hand pumper shown above was built in Waterford, New York and features a beautiful mahogany body with birch star inlays. It has two double-acting 10" cylinders capable of displacing up to two gallons per piston/per stroke. It was pulled by hand to the fire with the ropes stored on the reels at the front. Considered the "Chevrolet" of its day, #459 is an excellent example of fire fighting apparatus from this era. "F.V.F.D." on the side of the pumper signifies Figgie Volunteer Fire Department and was added just for decoration. "Protection" was the name of the original fire department. |
| 1904 "Cosmopolitan" Steam Fire Engine | |
 Registration #:2959 | Built in 1904 in Cincinnati, Ohio and designed by Charles H. Fox, this steamer is one of seven still existing from the 21 that were completed between 1902 and 1912. With a capacity of 250 gallons, this was the smallest steamer manufactured. It is 6 feet high, 7 feet long, 3 feet 8 inches wide, and weighs 1900 pounds. It was originally sold to Claremore, Oklahoma but the order was canceled prior to delivery. It was ultimately sold to Millersburg, Kentucky. |
| 1911 "Metropolitan" Steam Fire Engine | |
 Registration #: 3374 | Built in 1911 in Elmira, New York, these steam fire engines are acknowledged as the best steamers ever built. Each one weighed approximately 6,800 pounds and was drawn by two horses. The pump was powered by steam generated in the upright boiler and was capable of pumping 600 gallons per minute. The "Metropolitan" is adorned with elaborate gold-leaf scrollwork, typical of fire engines of this period. It was originally sold to Harrisonburg, Virginia and later purchased by Hendersonville (Virginia) Fire Department #4. |
| 1911 "Liberty" Type 5 | |
 Registration #: 30 | The restoration of this beautiful truck was completed in August, 1995. It runs well and is in perfect condition. In 1995 it was shown at the IAFC show and at Freightliner?s Century Class introduction. This truck is one of only 48 built in the two years before the model was replaced with the refined Type 10. It was originally built for the Liberty Fire Company, Reading, Pennsylvania. |
| 1911 Roadster Type 8 | |
 Registration #: None | This is the only authentic surviving passenger car built by American LaFrance. Built as a race car, it was withdrawn before its first race. The car was used on the public highways near Elmira, New York until 1923, when it disappeared from public view. It was located in a barn near Detroit in 1972. American LaFrance made 22 automobiles, of which only two were roadsters. |
| 1914 Type 12 | |
 Registration #: 676 | This model represents the first six-cylinder motorized fire apparatus built by American LaFrance and was the ancestor of almost all engines built by the company. The six-cylinder "T" head engine has the early "Pederson" drip and splash oiling system. First restored in 1950, #676 has a special claim to fame because it was then decorated by an artist who did some artwork for Walt Disney. It has since gone through another restoration. This truck was originally sold to the Los Angeles (California) Fire Department, Engine Company 32. |
| 1920 Type 75 Rotary Gear Pumper | |
 Registration #: 3121 | Restoration on this pumper was completed in mid-1996. The Type 75 became the standard at the time with 105 hp and 750 gpm ratings. This truck would actually pump well above 800 gpm. It features an unusual "New England-style" hose body which is flared out to accommodate cushioned seats for the firemen along either side. This pumper was built in Elmira, New York and originally purchased by Amesbury, Massachusetts. |
| 1920 Type 40 Pumper | |
 Registration #: 3318 | Built in Elmira, New York, this model was built as a combination pumper and chemical truck. The chemical tank held 40 gallons of bicarbonate soda and water solution, to which sulfuric acid was added at the fire scene, creating carbon dioxide gas to force the water from the tank. This pumper is typical of the many smaller, four-cylinder, 250 gpm rotary pumpers. This truck is in very good condition and runs well. Italian Vineyard in Guasti, California was the original buyer. |
| 1924 American LaFrance / Model-T Ford Chemical Truck | |
 Registration #: F-434 | Several hundred Model-T Fords carried American LaFrance fire fighting equipment. The Model-T?s flexibility enabled ALF equipment to be mounted at the company?s Elmira, New York plant, or at a service center, or in the local purchasing community. This truck carries two 25-gallon chemical tanks, 150 feet of hose, a fire extinguisher, a 16-foot extension ladder, two lanterns, an axe, crowbar, and of course, a bell. |
| 1926 Type 75 | |
 Registration #: 5892 | This model was the most popular fire apparatus of its day. Its light weight and maneuverability made it the mainstay of cities and towns all across North America. It has a six-cylinder, T-head engine and 750 gpm rotary gear pump. This beautiful truck runs as well as it looks. "Peachtree Heights" was originally shipped to the city of Inglenook, Alabama in January, 1927. |
| 1929 Service Truck | |
 Registration #: 7048 | This was the original wooden ladder truck. This particular truck, built during the Great Depression, went unsold until 1935. It is powered by a huge 125 hp engine and was one of the last American LaFrance trucks to use chain drive. This beauty was originally sold to the town of Gardner, Massachusetts. |
| 1931 Type 191 | |
 Registration #: L-505 | Classified as an "assembled" truck because of its use of a Buda engine instead of an American LaFrance, this piece was a very popular mid-level choice for communities throughout the country. It was built in Elmira, New York. The community of Long Green, Maryland was the original buyer. |
| 1940 "Invader" 500-Series Pumper | |
 Registration #: L-1228 | The body of this model is considered to be the first "styled" apparatus in the fire service. The truck?s clean appearance is enhanced by its ability to stow the suction hose and ground ladders out of sight. It was considered to be a radical design. At a time when our country was entering into war and steel was scarce, communities had to get permission from the United States government to purchase one of these trucks due to the amount of steel used in its construction. This model also helped to further the newly-developed concept of closed-end cabs. Built by American LaFrance-Foamite Corporation in Elmira, New York, this pumper was delivered to Enid, Oklahoma and is the sister truck to our newly acquired 85? aerial unit. |
| 1955 700-Series Pumper | |
 Registration #: L-5371 | The only diesel-powered truck in our collection, this piece represents a very typical custom pumper unit. "Coldwater #3 was built by American LaFrance-Foamite Corporation in Elmira, New York. |
| For More Information |
| Legacy Parts If you need help obtaining parts for your Legacy(pre-1995) American LaFrance, please contact your local American LaFrance dealer. (Locate your Dealer) When you contact them, please have your registration number ready. For units without a registration number please have the City and State of the original purchaser, so they can check the original records. Restoration
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